Common Claims Handled By Roofers Insurance (And How To Prevent Them)

Running a roofing company means managing risk on every project—working at heights, exposing interiors during tear-offs, and sometimes using open flames. When something goes wrong, Roofers Insurance (built on Commercial General Liability, plus key add‑ons) is the safety net for third‑party injuries, property damage, and certain advertising‑related claims. Prevention still pays the best—both in terms of avoided injuries and a lower loss history.

Below are the roofing‑specific claims we see most often, how CGL typically responds, and practical steps to reduce frequency and severity.

Falling‑Object & Trip‑Hazard Injuries To Third Parties (Premises/Operations)

What happens: A tenant or passerby is struck by a tool coming off the roof, or trips over cords/hoses in a walkway. These are third‑party bodily injury claims under CGL. OSHA requires fall protection controls (toeboards, screens, guardrails, canopies, barricades) on elevated work areas to protect people below. 

How to prevent

• Control zones: Barricade sidewalks/entries beneath work zones; use canopies or debris nets; post lookouts when lifting/hoisting.
• Tool/Material control: Toe‑boards at edges; tie‑off small tools; keep stacks stable per Subpart M criteria.
• Housekeeping: Route cords/hoses to avoid foot traffic and keep walkways clear and signed.

Why this matters: Customer slip-and-fall claims alone average approximately $20,000 per case, according to The Hartford—small events can be expensive. Using Medical Payments ($ 5,000–$ 10,000 typical) can help defuse minor incidents without litigation. 

Third‑Party Property Damage (Neighbors, Vehicles, Buildings)

What happens: Ladders or materials scratch siding, dent vehicles, crack skylights, or overspray drifts onto adjacent property. These are classic CGL property‑damage claims—but some carriers/laws may construe chemical overspray/fumes as “pollution,” which standard CGL often excludes; consider Contractors Pollution Liability (CPL) to close that gap.

How to prevent

• Pre‑job survey & photos of adjacent property/cars; move or cover vehicles.
• Containment: Wind screens, spray boxes, and designated buffer zones; pause when wind speeds exceed manufacturer/plan limits.
• Contracts & COIs: Require subs to carry CGL + CPL and to name you Additional Insured (AI) on ongoing (CG 20 10) and completed ops (CG 20 37) endorsements.

Open‑Roof Water Intrusion During Tear‑Off (Operations)

What happens: You remove roofing, a storm blows in, and the interior gets soaked. Many roofers assume that CGL will pay, but numerous policies include an “Open Roof” endorsement/limitation that restricts or excludes rainwater damage when the roof is open or not properly protected. Some forms bar rain damage entirely; others require proof you followed normal industry practice (dry‑in/tarping, weather checks). Know your endorsement. 

How to prevent

• Daily dry‑in plan: Never leave an open roof unattended; stage tarps/fall‑protection for fast coverage; secure edges.
• Weather monitoring & go/no‑go decisions documented with timestamps.
• Endorsement review: Ask your broker how your Open Roof wording applies and whether an affirmative coverage or “open roof buyback” is available.

Hot‑Work/Torch Fires (Torch‑Applied Modified Bitumen)

What happens: Smoldering below the deck ignites after crews leave. These can be catastrophic. The NRCA’s CERTA training addresses torch hazards and has materially reduced fire losses when adopted. The current 60-minute post-work NFPA 51B requires at least a 60‑minute post‑work fire watch, with up to three additional hours of monitoring where conditions warrant. Many cities require hot‑work permits. 

How to prevent

• Use a hot‑work permit and enforce CERTA torch training for crews/subs.
• Fire watch: Minimum 60 min after stopping work; extend monitoring up to 3 hours as conditions warrant; keep extinguishers charged and accessible.
• Alternate systems (self‑adhered or cold‑applied) where feasible; confirm substrate combustibility and deck penetrations.

Products–Completed Operations (Leaks After You Leave)

What happens: Weeks or months after completion, a flashing detail fails, allowing water to damage the interiors. Products–Completed Operations is the CGL component that may respond, subject to business‑risk exclusions. Notably, the policy won’t pay to replace your defective work itself (exclusion l. “Your Work”), but may cover resulting damage to other property. Courts hotly debate the scope of “that particular part” under exclusions j(5)/j(6). Read your form. 

How to prevent

• Detailing & QA: Manufacturer specs, photo logs, pull tests, inspection sign‑offs.
• Water testing at penetrations and transitions is required before demobilization.
• Risk transfer: Require subs to provide you with AI status, including completed operations (CG 20 37); keep certificates current through the statute of limitations.

Personal & Advertising Injury (Marketing/Social Media)

What happens: Using a competitor’s photos, claims about “lifetime” performance, or a negative post about another contractor can trigger defamation or IP claims. CGL Coverage B addresses certain personal & advertising injury offenses, but IP coverage is limited; patent and some content disputes often require separate media/IP liability coverage. Train staff and vet marketing. 

How to prevent

• Use only licensed content (photos, logos, music); keep license proofs on file.
• Claims review for superlatives (“waterproof,” “lifetime”) and competitor comparisons.
• Social policy & training for office and field staff.

What Roofers Insurance Usually Doesn’t Cover (But You’ll See In Claims)

• Employee injuries → Workers’ Compensation, not CGL.
• Pollution (e.g., spray foam fumes/overspray alleged as pollutants) → often excluded by CGL; consider CPL.
• Auto incidents (crew trucks) → Commercial Auto; CGL has an auto exclusion.
• Property in your care, custody, or control (e.g., owner’s personal property you’ve taken possession of) → typically excluded under CGL.

Field‑Tested Risk Controls That Lower Claim Frequency And Premiums

1. Plan the site: Barricade drop zones; canopy/building entry protection; daily housekeeping.
2. Weather discipline: Real‑time radar checks logged; enforce “no‑open‑roof unattended” policy; daily dry‑in certificates. 
3. Hot‑work rigor: CERTA training; formal permits; 60‑minute fire watch + monitored cool‑down as needed.
4. Documentation: Pre/post condition photos, checklists for penetrations/flashings, client sign‑offs.
5. Subcontractor risk transfer: AI (CG 20 10 & CG 20 37), Primary & Non‑Contributory, Waiver of Subrogation; verify certificates before site access.
6. Use Med‑Pay wisely: Maintain $5k–$10k Medical Payments to resolve minor third‑party injuries without fault determinations quickly.

Why These Issues Matter Now

Legal costs and large verdicts have pressured casualty lines—even as rate hikes moderate. CIAB reports average commercial P/C premium increases slowed to 3.7% in Q2 2025 (still up), while “nuclear verdicts” keep severity risk elevated. That means strong prevention + clean loss history are more valuable than ever at renewal time.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does CGL cover rain that enters during tear‑off?

Sometimes, but many policies add Open Roof limitations, excluding or restricting interior water damage unless strict precautions are met. Verify your endorsement. 

What’s the minimum fire‑watch after torch work?

The current NFPA 51B requires at least 60 minutes of fire watch after hot work, with up to 3 hours of additional monitoring based on specific conditions. Many jurisdictions enforce permits. 

If a leak appears months later, is that covered?

Resulting damage to other property may fall under products–completed operations, but fixing your defective work is usually excluded (“your work”). Coverage depends on form and facts; courts interpret j(5)/j(6) differently. 

Do we really need CPL?

If you spray foams/adhesives or generate fumes/overspray, CGL’s pollution exclusion can leave gaps. CPL is the standard solution. 

Take Control Of Your Risk — And Your Claims

Understanding the top roofing claims—falling‑object injuries, open‑roof water, hot‑work fires, overspray/property damage, and completed‑ops leaks—helps you target prevention where it counts. Back that with the right policy structure (CGL with completed ops, appropriate Open Roof terms, CPL, Auto, Workers’ Comp) and airtight sub contracts, and you’ll reduce losses and protect your margins. 

Need a policy tuned for roofing risk? Visit Roofers Insurance US to compare options—CGL, workers’ comp, commercial auto, CPL, tools & equipment, umbrella—and get endorsements that match real contract and permit requirements.